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Citation for Study 11818

About Citation title: "Genetic diversity in epichloid endophytes of Hordelymus europaeus suggests repeated host jumps and interspecific hybridizations".
About Study name: "Genetic diversity in epichloid endophytes of Hordelymus europaeus suggests repeated host jumps and interspecific hybridizations".
About This study is part of submission 11818 (Status: Published).

Citation

Oberhofer M., & Leuchtmann A. 2012. Genetic diversity in epichloid endophytes of Hordelymus europaeus suggests repeated host jumps and interspecific hybridizations. Molecular Ecology, 21(11): 2713-2726.

Authors

  • Oberhofer M. (submitter) Phone 0041446327427
  • Leuchtmann A. Phone ++41446323854

Abstract

Epichloid endophytes (Epichlo? and Neotyphodium spp.) are excellent model systems for studying speciation processes due to their variable life history traits that are linked to host fitness. Presumed jumps to new grass hosts and subsequent somatic hybridizations appear to be common among epichloid endophytes resulting in increased genetic variation upon which selection can act and speciation be initiated. In this study we explored the endophyte diversity of a rare European native woodland grass species, Hordelymus europaeus, along a latitudinal transect covering the entire distribution range of H. europaeus. From 23 populations in five countries, isolates were sampled and molecularly characterized. Based on the sequences of tubB and tefA, six distinct epichloid taxa (interspecific hybrid or cryptic species) were found, of which four were novel and two have been previously reported from this host. Of the novel endophytes, two were presumed to be interspecific hybrids and two of non-hybrid origin. While previously known endophytes of H. europaeus are seed-born and strictly asexual, one of the novel non-hybrid endophytes found in the glacial refugium of the Appenine peninsula reproduced sexually in the greenhouse. This is the first case of a seed-borne, but sexually reproducing endophyte of this host. We discuss origin and possible ancestral species of the six epichloid taxa using phylogenetic analyses. Repeated host jumps and somatic hybridizations characterize the diversity of the endophytes. To date, no other grass species is known to host a larger diversity of endophytes with different reproductive strategies than H. europaeus.

Keywords

Epichlo?, Neotyphodium, interspecific hybrid, Hordelymus europaeus, host jump, speciation, phylogeny

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About this resource

  • Canonical resource URI: http://purl.org/phylo/treebase/phylows/study/TB2:S11818
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